Thermo-electric regulator.



W. E. MACK.

THERMO-ELEGTRIG REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FIELD FEB. 12, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

2SHEET SSHEET 1.

W.-E. MACK.

THERMO-ELEGTRIO REGULATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908.

961,145, Patented June 14,1910. ZISHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. any Patents-No. 738,557, dated-September 8,.

1903 and 680,262, datedAugust 13, 1901, and

(UNITED STATESTATENT, OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MACK, FORT PLAIN, NEW YORK.

IHERMO-ELECTR IC BEGULATDR.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June '14, 1910.

Application filed February 12, 1908. Serial No. 415,627.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it-known that I, VILLIAM E. MACK, of Fort Plain, in the county ofMontgomery, in the. State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in lhermo-Electric Regulators, of which thefollowing, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, andexact description. v

This invention relates to certain improve ments in thermo electricregulators for valves or dampers of the class set forth in refers moreparticularly to, the setting and actuating means for the segment uponwhich the terminals, which coact with-the 'laminated barof thethermostat, are'mounted .and also to the chrononieter controlledelectrical means for releasing the segment at any predetermined time.

My main object is to enable the thermostat regulator to be set so as tocause the Operation of a valve or damper controlling mechanism as forinstance the draft or check damper, or both of such dampers, of a heaterunder a predetermined temperature and at a predetermined time. Forexample, I have sought to provide means whereby the terminals, whichcoact withthc laminated bar of the thermostat,may be set relatively tosaid bar so as'to electricallycontrol the action of the damper operatingmechanism to retain the dampers in a certain position, as for instancethe draft damper, closed for a certain period oftime or until such timeas itmay be desired to' open the draft, at which time the terminals ofthe thermostat will be alternately released and thereby close thecircuit through the electric damper controlling mechanism, causing thelatter to be operated of the, thermoelectric device, the electricalconnections being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged verticalsection through the thermo electr cregulating device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 1s a sectional view taken online 3-3, Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5'are detail 0 sectional views takenrespectively on lines 4-4 and 55,'Fig. 2-showing particularly the meansfor holding the terminal support ing segment in its adjusted positionand also the pawls for releasing the holding means 5 to permit thesegment to return to its starting position.

In order to demonstrate the practicability and operation of my inventionI have shown a furnace -1-' as provided with a 76 draft damper --2- andcheck damper3 .said dampers being connected respectively by chains orcables 4;- and '5 to diametrically opposite crank arms and -7 which aresecured to a shaft 8, as best seen in Fig. 1, forming a part of thedamper operating mechanism which is clearly set forth in my Patent No.680,262, August 13, 1901. This shaft 8 with the crank arms 6 and 7 isrotated by a suitso able spring motor (not shown) through the medium ofa train of gears and is adapted to rotate intermittingly one-halfrevolution at each operation, which operation is con-' pawl or detent-10' having one end adapted to engage, and hold the governor fromrotation and its other end adapted to ride in an annular groove 11 andto automatically drop by its own gravity into one of two diametricallyopposite recesses (not shown) but which serve to lock the gearing andmotor against further action until the detent is released from lookingengagement in said recess. locking pawl -10 is effected through thenicdium of an armature '12 and electro magnet 13 which latter is inelectrical connection with the terminal 14 on the shaft 8 and is alsoinelectrical connec- 100 tion with a suitable-source of electrical energyas a battery -15--. g When the damper operating mechanism is locked frommovement in the manner just" described, the battery 15 is in electrical10'5 connection wit-h one of-two terminals -16- and located at op ositesides of the shaft 8- inthe path 0 movement of'the terminal +14 saidterminals 16--..and'

17 being connected by separate wires 11c 18 and -19- 'to electromagnets-20- and 21, the latter being mounted coaXi- This releasing of thetrolled by afan governor and a gravity 85 ally in the main supportingframe as A- of the thermostat with their poles spaced apart "to receivebetween them an oscillatory armature 22 having a pointer .23 which ismovable across the face of an indicator plate -24e bearing the words 0nand ofi' as best seen in Fig. 1, to indicate the position of thedampers, that is, whether the draft is on or off. These electromagnets20 and 21- are connected by sep arate wires 25 and -2()- to contactterminals -27 and -28 which in turn are mounted coaxially upona'pivotedoscillatory segment 30 with their meeting points spaced aslight distance apart to receive between them .the free end of acomposition or laminated thermostatic bar This laminated bar 31 issecured at its upper end to the main supporting frame A-* and iselectrically con-. nected by a wire 3l to one pole of the battery 15while its lower free end is adapted to alternately contact with theterminals 27 and --2S as the bar is affected by thermal changes therebyclosing the circuit through one of the magnets @QO or 9l-- andelectromagnet 43 and thus tripping the pawl 10- from its lockingposition. and permitting the operation of the damper controllingmechanism.

' For example, assuming that the terminal terminal 28 14 of the damperoperating mechanism 18 in contact with the terminal l(3 and that themotor mechanism 1s locked and alsoiassuming that in the thermostat thelaminated bar -31 is in contact with the and out of contact with theterimnal -27 1n which position the draft is on as indicated by thepointer --23-;

now as the temperature rises it causes the free end of the bar to shiftposition out of contact with the terminal 28 and into contact with theterminal -2? thereby closing the circuit from the battery through thewire and laminated bar l the terminal -27, wire and electromagnet -E20-,thence through the wire -18, terminals -l4e and 1 and electromagnet l3-thence back to the battery -l5 thereby energizing the magnets -20 andl3- which causes the armature Q and pointer -23 to shift position acrossthe face of the indicator plate -24 and into registration with the wordoil and also energizing the magnet 13 to actuate the armature -12 andthe terminal 14 to come in contact with the terminal -l7 ready to closethe circuit through the other electromagnet 21- of the thermostat whenthe temperature lowers sufiiciently to cause the laminated bar tocontact with the terminal 28, it. being understood that when therevolving terminal 14: of the damper operating mechanism is in contactwith one of the terminals 1(ior -17, the circuit is broken at thethermostat terminals until the temperature is changed sui'liciently tocause the action of the laminated bar 3lto close such circuit,whichimmediately releases the driving mechanism and allows the terminal-14 to shift its position to again break the circuit. i v

The laminated thermostat bar 3l is preferably corrugated lengthwise torthe purpose of increasing its length and thereby increasing itssensitiveness and permitting plate 24 which is also secured to the mainsupporting frame, said scale being graduated for diiier'enttemperatures, and its opposite ends are designated by the words cold andwarm certain graduations indicating degrees of cold while othergraduations indicate higheror warmer degrees of,

temperature.

he shai't upon which the pointer (3- is mounted is provided with apinion --9 which meshes with a toothed rack -l-0 on the lower edge ofthe segi-nent -30- upon which the terminals -27-- and -28-- are mountedand are, tliereit'ore shit'table late1'- ally relatively to theiiiterposed portion of the laminated bar ot tor the purpose ofmechanically controlling the closing of the circuit through one or theother of the clectromagnets 20- or -Liand also through theclecti'on'iagnet 13-. For

example, assuming that a warm temperature has been maintained in thehouse and that upon retiring it is desired to close the d raft and th tthe pointer ---3oand terminals 97-- and are set through the me- (lit inof the rack and pinion to maintain a given warm temperature in the houseup to the time for retiring and it is then desired. to throw the draftoli. it is simply necessary for one, of the occupants oi? the house toshift the pointer 3G through the medium oi the hand piece -3T- to thecold position along the indicator plate 24- by which operation thecontact terminals ---2T will he brought into contact with the laminatedbar thereby closing the circuit through the and -28 through the mediumof the pointer to the cold position produces a ten- :sion upon the freeend of the laminated bar.

causing it to maintain contact with the terand its terminals and alsothe pointer .36- to the Warm position. This latter operation ofreturning. the segment --30- and' pointer 36+ to their normal positionsis preferably accomplished automatically through the medium of achronometer or clock and suitable releasing mechanisms which I will nowdescribe. When the segment ,3O and pointer 36-?- are shifted to the coldposition as shown on the indicator plate '24- the segment is held in.this position by means of a gravity pawl or detent 40 and ratchet wheel41- or by means of a friction disk 42 and either -or both of. whichretarding devices may be employed. v

The ratchet wheel 41 is frictionally locked to the shaft of thepinion"39 by means of a coil spring 44 which is tensioned between theadjacent faces of thepinion 3 i and ratchet wheel, and presses thelatter against a stop pin 4c5 on the pinion shaft which allows thepinion shaft- .to. be rotated by the hand piece .37

v against the holding engagement of the pawl 40' while the brake shoe 43acting on the friction disk 42-- performs a simi lar function. The p'awll0" is pivoted at4;6- upon a portion of the main supporting frame A- andis weighted to automatically force the holding end of the pawl intoeagement with the teeth of the ratchet whee '4l; said pawl beingprorvided with a hub -.48 to which one end of the spring brake shoe 48is secured by means'of a fastening screw 49--, Fig. 1, so that when thepawl is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheel the brake shoewill also be thrown out of en agement with the disk 42@ This" paw l0"and brake shoe 43 through the medium i the pinion 39 operate to holdthe segment. and pointer -36- intheir I adjusted position with theointer 36=in registration with the wor cold on the indicator plate 34againstthe action of a suitable retracting spring -50-' as best seen inFigs. 2 and3 although the tension upon the laminated bar 3l performs asimilar retracting function undemsuch adjustment. It is now clear thatall that it is necessary to do to restore the segment and terminalsthereon is to release the pawl 40- and brake shoe l3 from holdingengagement with the ratchet wheel 41 and brake disk ,42- respectively.As previously stated I have provided means for effecting this releaseautomatically and at any predetermined time and for this purpose Iprovide any suitable time piece as a clock 52- with an operating arm 5 4similar to the striker of an alarm clockex cept that it is rigid .on arevolving part of the clock and maybe set to be released at apredetermined time, the same'as the striker of an alarm clock and whenreleased at such predetermined time it is adapted to engage and operatea spring terminal 56 into contact with an additional terminal 5Y,

the terminal 56 being electrically con- 57 are brought into electricalcontact by the operation of the member 54c at a predetermined time, theelectromagnet -60 will be energized to operate its armature 64 againstthe action ofa retraeting spring 65 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Thisarmature 65 is preferably angular and ispivoted near its angle to asuitable supportin the main supporting frame,- the horizontal endthereof being provided with a slotted arm 68 which receives-a pin 69 onthe weighted end of the pawl -10 so that when the armature 64-isactuated by the energizing of the magnet -60 as previously statedthepawl 40' and brake shoe 43 are simultaneously thrown from theirholding positions thereby permitting the spring 50' to return thesegment 30', terminals -27 and '-28 thereon to their normal positionsduring which action the terminal 28- is brought into contact with thelaminated bar -31 thereby closing an electric circuit through theelectromagnet- 21 and also through the electroma net 1'3 causing the rclease of the (Tamper operating mechanism and consequent opening of thedraft damper 2- and closing of the check 3-.v

The desired temperature both cold and warm may be more closely regulatedby limiting the movementof the segment 30' and its terminals -27- and-28- relatively to the laminated bar -S1 and for this purpose; provideadjustable limiting stop -70, and 71 which are screwed in opposite sidesof the main supportingframe in alinement with opposite edges of thesegment 30 so as to limit the lateral swinging movement of said segmentand thereby regulate the position of the terminals 27- and 28- withreference to the interposed portion of the lami-.

portion of said bar near its fastening so as not to interrupt the freeaction of the bar throughoutv practically its entire length underthermal changes and still permit its free end to assume a neutralposition between the terminals under a mean temperature.

- The tension of the retracting spring 65 may be regulated by a suitableadjusting screw ,75 as best seen in Figs. 1 and '3 I so that suchtension may be gaged accordingto the strength of the battery which isemployed to energize the magnet 60-.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood by reference tothe foregoing description and accompanying divings and it will be seenthat the essential features that I have endeavored to bring out are:1st, the means for mechanically changing the position of the segment andits contact terminals with reference to the interposed laminated bar,2nd, the means for holding said segment in its adjusted position, and3rd, the automatic means for releasing the holding means to permit thesegments and its terminals to return to their normal position at apredetermined time to-' gether with other minor details which will behereinafter claimed;

What I claim is 1. In a thermo-elect-ric device for controlling anelectrical damper actuating mechanism comprising a supporting'frame, a'magnet carried thereby and in circuit with a source of electricalenergy and in circuit with an electrically-controlled damper actuatingmechanism, a magnet carried by the frame and in circuit with a source ofelectrical energy and in circuit with the electrically-controlled damperactuating mechanism, an oscillatorysegment, a contact car ried therebyand iycireuitwith one of said magnets, another contact carried by thesegment and in circuit with the other of'said magnets, an oscillatoryarmature extending between said magnet and constituting a pointer, anindicator associating with said armature, a thermostatic bar connectedat one end to said frame and extending between saidcontacts, and when inengagement with one of the contacts closing one of the circuits, amanually-operated means on aging with the segment for adjusting itwereby the contact points are shifted, means engaging with saidmanually-operated means for maintaining the segment in its adjustedposition, an electrical clock controlling means for actuating saidholding means to release the segment, means for returning the segment tonormal position, a pointer carried by said manually-operated means, andan indicating means associating with said lastmentioned pointer.

2. In a thermo-electric device for controlling an electrical damperactuating mechanism com risin a su ortin frame a ma D b 7 D net carriedthereby and in circuit with a source of electrical energy and in circuitwith an electrically-controlled damper actuating mechanism, a magnetcarried by the frame and in circuit with a source of elec trical energyand incircuit with the elcctrically-controlled damper actuatingmechanism, an oscillatory segment, a contact carried thereby and incircuit with one of said mag- "nets, another contact carried by thesegment and in circuit with the other of said magnets, an oscillatoryarmature extending between said magnets and constituting a pointer, anindicator associating with said armature, a corrugated thermostatic barconnected at one end to said framc and extend? ling between saidcontacts, and when in engagement with one-of the contacts closing one ofthe circuits, a manually operated means engaging with the segment foradjust ing it whereby the contact points are shifted, and means engagingwith said manuallyoperated means for maintaining the segment in itsadjusted position, an electrical clock controlling means for actuatingsaid holding means to release the segment, and means forv returning thesegment to normal position 3, In a thermo-electric device forcontrolling an electrical damper actuating mechanism comprising asupporting frame, a magnet car'ried thereby and'in circuit with a sourceof electrical energy and in circuit with an electrically-controlleddamper actuating mechanism, a magnet carried by the one of the circuitsa manually operated shifted, means engaging With said manually in itsadjusted position, an electrical clock armature, a corrugatedthermostatic bar connected at oneend to said frame and entenclingbetween sald contacts and when in engagemeirt with one of the contactsclosing manually-operated means, and an indicating means associatingWith i said last-mentioned pointer. l y

In witness whereof I- have hereunto set means engaging With the segmentfor'agimy hand this 5th day of February 1908. justing it whereby thecontact points are T lvitnessesz- A. L. GRos, CHAS. G. ZIELLEY;

operated means for maintaining thessegment controlling means forreturning the segment to normal position, a pointer carried by saidWILLIAM E. MACK.

